LOVE IS NEVER SILENT

US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Mare Winningham, Cloris Leachman, Sid Caesar, Phyllis Frelich, Ed Waterstreet, Fredric Lehne.
Directed by Joseph Sargent.

Love is Never Silent is a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie. These films are marked by a deep humanity – as well as an accessibility to the widest possible audience.

One of the focuses of this film is people with hearing impairment. Margaret Ryder, played by Mare Winningham, is the daughter of hearing-impaired parents (played by Phyllis Frelich and Ed Waterstreet who are actors from the National Theatre for the Deaf in the United States. She feels that she must care for them but is advised by a friend that she should also look to her own happiness. She marries – but is very much tormented by her feelings that she should be caring for her parents.

The film is very emotional, for the plight of the young woman as well as her relationship with her parents.

The film won an Emmy for outstanding film or miniseries as well as best director for Joseph Sargent, director of a wide range of films and, especially, television films over many decades.

1. The impact of the telemovie? The intended audience for Hallmark Films? The world of the hearing-impaired?

2. The Depression setting, the 30s to the 50s? The city, homes, factories? The contrast with university? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on love, the emphasis on silence and hearing?

4. Margaret’s story: her memories, her love, her feelings of guilt and responsibility, her having to let go, to change?

5. Margaret and Bradley? The shop owner, the radio, the coffin and the death? Poverty? The funeral?

6. Margaret’s parents, hearing-impaired, their quality of life, work, communication and love? Their children? The experience of death? Price, the factory and work? Friends? Their being mocked, swindled? Attitudes towards them? Their attitudes towards other people, having to be strong, even tough?

7. Margaret and her childhood, growing up? At home, talking, signing? Her means of communication? Helping her parents? Work? Medical issues? School and graduation? Her dress, the award? Mr Petrakis? The embarrassment, the children?

8. The parents and the effect of Margaret’s choice?

9. Mr Petrakis, his personality, the shop? The Depression? The radio, buying and changing? Talk? The graduation and the gift? Helping to move? Death?

10. The move, the house, changing? Margaret and her work? William? The friendship, the kiss? The farewell and letters? The attitude of the parents? Anger? Marriage, the telegram? The showdown?

11. Claire, the son, the meeting, the farewell, the dinner? Anger? No signing? The meal, the argument and the speech?

12. Bill and his being wounded, the return, in the house? Time passing, moving? The visits and the anger? The birth of the baby? Staying away? Kristen and the arrival?

13. The party and the speech, the tribute? The grandson? The visit, sharing and everyone being together?

14. Impairment, the minority of people who are impaired, their quality of life, the effect of their impairment, on themselves, on their children? Hope – and love?